News and Updates

News and Updates

02 July 2018

Are you applying for a visa or residence permit to Norway? Please make note of the following changes

New regional system for immigration cases

As from 06 August 2018, applications for visa or residence permit will be processed by the Norwegian embassy in Abu Dhabi – United Arab Emirates. However, applications will still be received through VFS Global in Islamic Republic of Pakistan after this date.

Apply and collect as before!

You will still be able to submit the application and collect the decision letter from the same visa application center as before. Whereas the application procedures remain the same, please take note of the following changes when applying to go to Norway from 06 August 2018:

Extended processing time:

The processing time for a Schengen visa to Norway is up 15 days from the date the application is received at the Embassy. Please take note that you should allow for an additional 3-5 days for the transportation of your documents between the visa application center and Abu Dhabi- United Arab Emirates. It is highly recommended that you apply well in advance, at least 4 weeks prior to your planned trip.

Introduction of a courier fee

As before, there will be a visa application fee, and a service fee charged by VFS Global. In addition there will be courier fee to cover transportation of your documents between the visa application center and Abu Dhabi – United Arab Emirates.

All persons applying for a Norway visa or residence permit in Lahore should note that due to adverse weather conditions there will be an additional delay of one day in the transportation of application files to the Embassy of Norway in Islamabad. This delay also applies to applications that have been processed by the Embassy and returned to Gerry’s. This delay will continue throughout the winter season and normal service will resume as soon as possible.

27 February 2017

Information for employees of Telenor, Nera and Eltek

With effect from 1 March 2017 employees of Telenor, Nera and Eltek travelling on business will no longer require an appointment to submit their application at a visa application centre. Employees of these companies will be able to walk-in at their convenience during working hours.

22 February 2017

Important message to applicants from Afghanistan

The Norwegian Embassy in Islamabad will from 15 March 2017 require all applicants with Afghani passports to hand in their original passport in ALL applications for residence permits or visas. If you do not have a passport, you need to hand in another ID document or an explanation for why you do not have any ID documents.

You will normally have the passport/ID documents back 4 working days after you handed it in to a VAC/Gerry’s office. The passport will be returned to you after the Embassy has conducted the proper control of the document. The Embassy will only return the passport to the VAC/Gerry’s office where you handed in the passport.

The Embassy strongly advises against travelling out of Pakistan without your passport, as you may not be able to enter to pick up your passport. We will not be able to send it through post outside of Pakistan.

If you have handed in your application before the 15 March 2017, and are granted a visa or a permit in Norway, the Embassy will conduct a thorough document check of when you come to the Embassy to have your visa issued. If the Embassy finds anything suspicious with the document at that time, they will refuse to issue the visa.

24 January 2017

No appointments at the Norway VACs between 1 February 2017 and 7 February 2017

Please note that there will be no appointments to submit applications at the visa application centres between Wednesday 1 February 2017 and Tuesday 7 February 2017.

5 December 2016

Closures for Eid Milad un Nabi

The Norway visa application centres will be closed on Monday 12 December 2016 for Eid Milad Un Nabi.

27 October 2016

New document requirements checklist for short term visa applicants

Short term visa applicants should consult the revised document checklist, available here, for information on the documents required by the Embassy of Norway. Failure to submit all the required documents may result in the visa application being rejected. Staff at the visa application centres will inform you if a document is missing and you will be given the opportunity to provide it.

19 October 2016

Special arrangements for family groups applying in Karachi

With immediate effect family groups applying for a Norway visa in Karachi only need to book one appointment per family. If you have any questions please contact us on by email or call our helpline.

9 September 2016

Appointments at the Norway VACs will be available again from 14 September

The Norway Embassy’s visa section will be partly reopening and therefore appointments to submit visa applications at the Norway visa application centres will be available from 14 September 2016. For more information please visit the website of the Embassy of Norway

25 August 2016

The Norway Visa Application Centres are unable to accept new visa applications until further notice.

From Friday 26 August 2016 and until further notice no new visa applications for Norway can be accepted. If your appointment is cancelled our staff will contact you once we are able to accept applications again in order to schedule a new appointment for you. Further information can be found on the website of the Embassy of Norway at www.norway.org.pk/

15 August 2016

An appointment will be required from Monday 22 August 2016.

From Monday 22 August 2016 all applicants will need to have booked an appointment in order to apply at any of the VACs. An appointment can be booked online or via our helpline. A printout of the appointment letter must be carried when attending the VAC. Those without an appointment will not be permitted to submit their application.

25 May 2016

VAC opening hours during Ramadan

During the month of Ramadan the VAC will be open from 09:00 to 15:00. The passport collection timing will be from 09:00 to 13:00. There will be no change to the submission timing.

17 December 2015

The Norway Visa Application Centre will be closed on Thursday 24 December 2015.

The VAC will be closed on 24 December 2015 on account of the Prophet’s Birthday.